Plasmolysis occurs in cells that possess a cell wall when they are placed in a hypertonic environment. During this process, the plasma membrane contracts and detaches from the cell wall, leading to a decrease in interior volume. However, the cell wall remains intact, allowing the cell to maintain some shape and integrity for a period of time before potentially dying.

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Cell walls help to prevent cells from bursting in dilute environments, but they do not have many functions available to help maintain structure in high osmotic pressure environments, which results in plasmolysis. 

How Cells React to Osmotic Pressure

A hypertonic solution has a higher solute concentration than another solution, such as the inside of a cell, causing water particles to diffuse out of the cell into the external environment. For instance, if a cell with $${}20\%$$ solute and $${}80\%$$ water is placed in a beaker containing $${}40\%$$ solute and $${}60\%$$ water, water will exit the cell, which can lead to crenation in cells lacking a cell wall.

Hypertonic Medium

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Halophiles not only thrive in salty conditions but require certain levels of salt concentration for growth. They are often found in salt water environments and in extreme cases places like the Dead Sea.

Halophiles

Plasmolysis

Crenation is the shriveling of a cell that lacks a cell wall when placed in a hypertonic environment. As the cell becomes dehydrated from water moving out, its plasma membrane contracts and takes on a scalloped or notched appearance.

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